Baldwin County Schools push to debunk myth: Voters will decide on a 1-mill renewal, not a tax increase

Baldwin County School officials have spent the past couple of weeks on social media and elsewhere trying to debunk misinformation: A referendum question on Tuesday's ballot is not a new tax for the schools.

Instead, voters are being asked whether one of Alabama's fastest growing and largest school systems should keep receiving 1 mill of property tax for the next three decades. The 1-mill is due to expire in 2018.

If voters say "Yes," 12 mills of taxes will continue to flow to the school system for general operations. That equates to about $4.3 million per year, and in a fast-growing school system like Baldwin County, officials say "every fraction of a cent counts."

A mill amounts to a dollar in tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value.

"I want to clearly state that this is a renewal, not a tax increase," said school system Chief Financial Officer John Wilson. "We are simply renewing an existing revenue source that has been in place for decades supporting Baldwin County public schools."

This 1 mill of tax is the same that failed to win renewal in the March 1, 2016, primary election. At that time, it fell 184 votes shy of receiving the 60 percent support needed to pass.

This time around, the mill will only 50 percent support to pass. The school system is requesting the millage through a relatively unused provision in state law that allows a 50 percent threshold for approval rather than 60 percent.

The school system is not conducting any kind of formal campaign for the renewal. Instead, its utilizing social media to provide basic information and to remind voters that the renewal is not a tax increase.

The school system has avoided active campaigning since 2015, when five ballot questions - including three tax renewals - were all rejected by voters during a special election aimed at obtaining revenue to fuel a $350 million capital construction program.

In late 2015, Eddie Tyler took over as system superintendent. He and his staff crafted a $60 million pay-as-you-go construction plan that is expected to support construction needs for the future. County officials, once wary of the school system's direction, have praised Tyler and his team for moving in a more fiscally responsible direction.

"These are exciting times in Baldwin County and for the Baldwin County public schools," Tyler said in a statement. "We're seeing progress in both academics and in facilities that we've not seen in years. The board has brought about increased accountability, significant savings, cuts and a pay-as-you-go capital plan that is set to save the school system tens of millions of dollars."

The 1-mill renewal, if it is approved, will continue to provide funding for the Gulf Shores schools, according to school officials. Jonathan Gray, a communications strategist retained by the school system earlier this year, described the renewal as a "countywide tax," meaning that all of Baldwin County receives a pro-rate share of its revenue.

Gray said that Gulf Shores voters will find the tax renewal question on their ballots.

The millage renewal has some detractors, including the Common Sense Campaign tea party group. Lou Campomenosi, who heads the group's Baldwin County chapter, acknowledges that the school system has made improvements under Tyler's leadership, but said that more needs to be done. Chief among his complaints is that he feels voters were denied the chance to vote on the penny renewal before the county commission extended it.

Campomenosi said he also believes the school system needs to become more transparent in its operations and finances.

Gray, however, said the critics are "living in the past," and remain upset about former superintendent Alan Lee, has long been gone. Gray described Lee as a "wasteful spender" who "led the board down a road that didn't pay off. The board has had to learn from that."

Not all of the school system's past critics are advocating for the renewal's defeat. Kevin Spriggs, who campaigned against the 2015 referendum, said he's been pleased with the school system's approach in the past year, especially with the pay-as-you-go construction plan.

Spriggs, a supporter of Republican Roy Moore during Tuesday's special Senate election, said "there are bigger fish to fry" when it comes to campaigning in the days leading to the vote. "I don't like to endorse taxes, but nevertheless, we have to keep a stable level of funding for the school system," said Spriggs, who is a businessman in Baldwin County. "I see those existing taxes as part of that."

The school system has publicly stated it has no plans to go before voters anytime soon for a tax increase request. "This school system has made a pledge of no new taxes, so it is critical that we maintain the funding levels available today," said Wilson, the schools' CFO.